Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, participated in ASEAN meetings including ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM), the 22nd ASEAN Political-Security Community Council Meeting (APSC), and the 28th ASEAN Coordinating Council Meeting (ACC) via video conference, prior to the 37th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, to be held during 12-15 November 2020.

On 10 November 2020, at 08.00 hrs., H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs participated in ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) where he exchanged views on international and regional issues including post COVID-19 cooperation and recovery, situation in Rakhine State, and the South China Sea. With emphasis on helping one of the most vulnerable sectors of the economy, Thailand reiterated the proposal to develop an “ASEAN SME Recovery Facility” as of the programmes under the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework. The Meeting also discussed preparations for the 37th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits.

At 10.15 hrs., the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs participated in the 22nd ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) Council Meeting, and expressed support to the implementation and the Mid-term review of APSC Blueprint 2025, which would be one of key deliverables of ASEAN Chairmanship of Viet Nam. Furthermore, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs also highlighted important issues including; (1) border management in ASEAN as Thailand’s initiative in accordance with APSC Blueprint 2025, (2) cybersecurity and control of cybercrime by ultilising the ASEAN-Japan Cybersecurity Capacity Building Centre (AJCCBC) in Thailand, and (3) cooperation on military medicine through the ASEAN Center of Military Medicine (ACMM) in Bangkok, especially on mitigating the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

At 11.15 hrs., the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs participated in the 28th ASEAN Coordinating Council Meeting (ACC) where he joined ASEAN Foreign Ministers supporting Viet Nam on its ASEAN Chairmanship deliverables, while reaffirming Thailand’s commitment to cooperating with ASEAN Member States to advance COVID-19 response initiatives. The Meeting discussed preparations for the 37th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits especially issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic such as the recommendation for the 37th ASEAN Summit to task ACC to have oversight and ensure the effective operationalisation of the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund, and to launch the ASEAN Regional Reserve of Medical Supplies for Public Health Emergencies (RRMS) at the Summit.

Lastly, at 12.30 hrs., the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs together with Foreign Ministers of ASEAN Member States signed the Instruments of Extension to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) and witnessed the signing ceremony of the Instruments of Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) by Colombia, Cuba and South Africa through video conference.